Musical toy



Jul 25,1931. FlGoRlm; 1,816,64

MUSICAL TOY Filed April 10, 1930 2 Sheets- Sheet 1 July 28, 1931. .F. J. GoRluP 1 MUSICAL TOY f'fiied Api il 10, 1930 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 lVENTOR d7147,

- ,UNITED STATES Patented July 28, 1931 PATENT OFFICE FRANK J. GOR-IUP, OF PITTSBURGH, PENNSYLVANIA, ASSIGNOR T0 WOLVERINE SUI- PLY & MANUFACTURING COMPANY, OF PITTSBURGH, PENNSYLVANIA, A CORPO- 1 RATION OF PENNSYLVANIA MUSICAL TOY Application filed April 10,

More particularly my invention relates to .that class of toys wherein musical notes are sounded by the vibration of resonant element, such as keys, wires and the like.

In mechanically operated toys of this type the rests or dwells between notes have been uniform and thus the sequence of notes or tune is rendered without the proper tempo.

One of the characteristic features of my inx 10 Vention is the provision of means for maintaining the proper tempo in the playing of tunes by said toys.

Another feature of my invention is the improvement of the mechanical structure and operation of such toys so that by means of interchangeable records the toys may be arranged for playing an extensive repertoire of airs and tunes.

Other novel features of construction and arrangement of parts will appear from the following description.

In said description and the accompanying drawings the invention is shown embodied in a Xylophone toy, but it will be understood that it may be likewise applied to any mechanically operated toy wherein the musical notes are produced by resonance. In the accompanying drawings wherein I have illustrated a practical embodiment of the principles of my invention, Fig. 1 is a side elevation of the toy.

Fig. 2 is a plan view.

Fig. 3 is a plan view of the note-selective disk of the tune-record.

, Fig. 4 is a similar view of the tempo-control disk of the tune-record. I

Fig. 5 is a detail partially in side elevation and partially in vertical section showing the mechanism which actuates the impact memher or hammer.

Fig. 6 is a detail in plan-showing the noteselective lever and disk.

Fig. 7 is a detail in plan showing the tempocontrol lever and disk, and also showing the record-holding and throw-off means.

Fig. 8 is a detail vertical section showing the mounting of the tune record on the machine.

Referring to the drawings, 1 represents a horizontally disposed table or frame having 1930. Serial No. 443,065.

an open top and supported at its ends by the legs 2. The table and its legs may be stamped of sheet metal and the frame is preferably of the arcuate form shown. At each end of the table wings 3 extend rearwardly and together with the legs 4 support a lower level platform 5.

6 represents a series of musical bars or keys mounted on the table 1 and formed of metal or other material which will sound a note when struck. The keys are graduated in tune as by their length to form a scale. The keys are held in place, preferably removably, in any convenient manner. Thus I have shown the spacing pins 7 and the tongues 8 of the metal of the table bent down over the ends of the keys.

The platform 5 is provided with a circular hole 9, and 10 represents a circular and upwardly dished base rotatably mounted over said hole and held in position by the dished annular holding plate 11 which may be bolted or otherwise secured to the platform. A pinion 12 is secured to the under side of the base 10 and depends through the hole 9. The base is provided with an axial hole which registers with the bore of the pinion.

13 represents a figure, preferably representing a human being, such as a clown, and which is hollow and may be made of sheet metal. The figure'is mounted in a standing position on the platform so as to rotate with the latter.

14 represents the arms of the figure 13, the same being pivotally connected to the figure at either side of the latter on a common axis, as at 15, at a point somewhat in front of the rear or shoulder ends of the arms. The front or hand ends of the arms are connected together so that the arms swing in unison, and 16 represents a double rod which forms the handle of the hammer 17 and whose inner ends are fixed to the hand ends of the arms. Thus the hammer rises and falls wit-h the arms.

At their rear or shoulder ends the arms are connected together by a cross pin 18 which extends through the arcuate slots 19 in the sides of the figure 13 so that the arms may swing to raise and lower the hammer,

till

20 represents a vertically disposed metal rod which extends upwardly through the bore of the pinion l2 and the base 10 into the interior of the figure 13. he upper end of the rod 20 is pivotally connected to the intermediate portion of the pin 18 by being bent and looped about said pin as at 21. The rod 20 is movable vertically relative to the figure and its base.

The lower end of the rod 20 is provided with a washer 22 which is held on the rod by flattening or rivetin the lower end of the latter.

23 represents a three-sided frame slidably mounted on the rod 20. 2-1 represents a heli cal spring coiled about the rod 20 and having its lower bearing on the base 10 while its upper end bears against the frame which is thus resiliently ield against he looped upper end 2?. of the rod 20.

It is evident that wh n, the od 20 is l "awn downwardly the spring 2-1 is compres the hammer l? is raised, and wl l 1 wardly exerted force is relieve i the rod, the spring expands, causn thev ham r to strike a blow on the key 6 o which the hammer is poised.

It likewise obvious that by swinging the base 10 and the figure 13 on their vertical axis to the proper position any selected key may be struck by the descending hammer.

25 represents a spring motor which may be mounted on the under side of the platform -6 represents the winding key of the motor, and 27 its control lever.

The driven shaft 28 of the motor extent 5 up through a hole in the platform 5 and has fixed thereon above the platform 5 the-circular ba 29. Above said base the upper end of the shais enlarged in diameter and at top provided with a circumferential groove 30.

The base 29 is upwardly dished to elevate its erimetral edge and is provided with an ecceinrically placed finger 31.

The tune-record which is removably mounted on the platform 29 so as to be interchangeable comprises a tempo-control disk and a note-selective disk These oisks are pre erably fixed. in relation to each other. Thus rivets engaging the holes 34- in the disks may be used for that purpose. d hen assembled the disk 3' is beneath and said disk is upwardly dished as to space apartthe perimetral edges of the two dists and thus prevent interference.

The disks are provided 'ith rcgi central holes that they may. be slig down over the upper end of the shaft and rest upon the base 29.

The finger 31. extends up through reg ing holes 36 in the disks so the disks a caused. to revolve with the base when the motor is stopped.

37 represents an oscillating lever mounted 0 downon a horizontal axis beneath the platform 5 as on the bracket 38 depending from said platform. One end of said lever is bifurcated and straddles the rod 20 so when the lever is tilted in the pro r directiom counterclockwise in Fig. 5, t e rod 20 is drawn downwardly, compressing the spring 24 and elevating the. hammer 17. The swing of the lever is limited by anabutment 39 ontlie 0pposite end of the lever which contacts. with the under side of the platform 5. The lever 37 is further provided with a. projection or a linger 40 which extends up through a slot in the platform 5 and bears against one end of a. lever 4:1 pivoted intermediate of its end on the platform 5 and having its other end provided with a tooth 42 which is held in resilient engagement with the perimetraledge of the tempo-control disk 32- by the influence of the spring 24:.

The perimetral edge of the-disk 32 is irrdented, as bestshown in Fig. 4, so that the revolution of the disk will cause the levers 41 and 37 to oscillate, thus causing the hammer 17 to be raised and droppedand thereby striking blows on thekeys' 6.. The valleys-0n the edge of the disk permit the lever. tomck clockwise, thus allowing the spring 20 to expand and drop the hammer, Whilethe inter:- vening shoulders on the disk cause-the hammer to be elevated. Thus by properly arranging and proportioning flieshould'ers the desired tempo may be obtained. It is evident that the extent or length of the shoulder regulates the dwell between consecutivenotes.

d3 represents a lever which is pivoted beneath the table 5 one vertical axis asby'means of the large headed screw 44 extending up through the lever and screwed into a threaded hole in the platform 5. One end ofthe lever 43 is provided with a toothed sector 15 which is in mesh with the pinion 12' oftlie-basoIO', while the other end of thelever is provided with a vertical finger atfi which extends up through aslot in theplatform 5 and engages the perimet-ral edge of the note-selective disk 33. Any convenient means may be employed to hold said finger in. resilient engagement with the disk. Thus I- have; shown a: leafspring 47 attached to the under side of the platform 5 and. bearing against the disk-end of the lever.

It is apparent that by giving the perimet-ral edge of the disk 33 the necessary contour, the figure 13 will be. swungonitsver tical axis so that the proper sequence of notes will be struck to play a predetermined tune, the tempo being simultaneously controlled by the valleys and shoulders on theperimetml edge of thetempo-control. disk 32.

It is obvious that by providing proper tune-records any selected tune maybe played by the toy, and as these records are infirm" changeable an almost unlimited repertoire may be provided for the toy;

g 9 to cause the latter to vibrate, of a tune record To hold the record in place on the base 29 I provide a lever 48 pivoted at one end on the platform 5, as at 49, and having its intermediate portion arched for clearance and its free end provided with a yoke 49a of proper character to slide into engagement with the groove 30 on the head of the shaft 28, thus preventing the record from being accidentall dislodged from the base 29. The end of the lever 48 is provided with a finger piece 50 to enable the lever to be swung to one side to release the record so that a played record may be removed and another substituted. The pivoted end of the lever 48 is provided with an abutment 51 which abutment, when the lever is thrown over its record holding position shown in Fig. 2 to its retracted position shown in Fig. 7 engages the note-selective lever 41 and throws it to retract the tooth 42 and also to raise the hammer from the keys. The pivoted end of the lever 48 is also provided with a notch 52 which engages one end of an oscillating lever 53 pivoted intermediate of its ends on the platform 5. The other end of the lever 53 engages the finger 46 of the oscillating lever 43. When the lever 48 is swung into its retracted position the lever 53 is thrown moving the finger 46 out of the way of the perimetral edge of the record.

What I claim is 1. In a musical toy provided with a plurality of elements which when vibrated pro duce different musical notes, the combination with means for causing the vibration of individual elements of a tune-record arranged to be interchangeably applied to the toy and consisting of a unitary structure which comprises the combination of means for controlling the sequence of notes sounded by said vibrating means and means in addition to the sequence control means for selectively regulating the rests between individual notes whereby a given tune may be played.

2. In a musical toy, the combination with a plurality of elements which when vibrated produce different musical notes, an impact member, and means for causing said impact member to strike said elements individually arranged to be removably applied to the toy and consisting of a unitary structure comprising selective means for directing operation of said member whereby a predetermined sequence of notes is produced, and means in addition to said note-selective means for regulating the tempo of such sequence.

3. In a musical toy, the combination with a plurality of elements which when vibrated produce different musical notes, an impact member, and means for causing said impact member to strike said elements individually to cause the latter to vibrate, of selective means for directing operation of said memi ber whereby a predetermined sequence of notes is produced, and means in addition to said note-selective means for regulating the tempo of such sequence, both of said means combined in a unitary structure which is arranged to be removably applied to the toy and interchangeable whereby by the selection of the proper means a selected tune may be played on the toy.

4. In a musical toy, the combination with a plurality of elements which when vibrated produce diflerent musical notes, an impact member, and means for causing said impact member to strike said elements individually to cause the latter to vibrate, of selective means for directing operation of said member whereby a predetermined sequence of notes is produced, and means in addition to said note-selective means for regulating the tempo of such sequence, said selective means and said regulating means being arranged as a unitary structure removably mounted as a tune-record on the toy whereby by the selection of the proper tune-record a selected tune may be played on the toy.

5. In a musical toy, the combination with a plurality of elements arranged in series and which when vibrated produce different musical notes, an impact member, and means for causing said member to strike said elements individually to vibrate the same, of means comprising a disk having variegated perimetral edge for shifting the path of movement of said member whereby the elements are vibrated in a predetermined sequence, and means, combined with said disk to form a unitary tune record, for selectively regulating the rests between the operations of said member whereby to produce the desired tempo.

6. In a musical toy, the combination with a plurality of elements arranged in series and which when vibrated produce different musical notes, an impact member, and means for causing said member to strike said elements individually to vibrate the same, of means comprising a disk having a variegated perimetral edge for shifting the path of movement of said member whereby the elements are vibrated in a predetermined sequence, and means, combined with said disk to form a unitary tune record, for selectively regulating the rests between the operations of said member whereby to produce the desired tempo, said tune record being interchangeable relative to the toy whereby a selected tune may be played on the toy.

7. In a musical toy, the combination with a plurality of elements arranged in series and which when vibrated produce different musical notes, an impact member, and means for causing said member to strike said elements individually to vibrate the same, of means comprising a disk having a variegated perimetral edge for shifting the path of movement of said member whereby the elements are vibrated in a. predetermined sequence, and means comprising a second disk havin a variegated perime'ral edge for selectively regulating the rests oetwcen the operations of said member wl J r to produce the desired tempo. said d s being permanently cured together to form a unitary structure which may be applied to and removed from the toy as a whole.

8. In a musical toy, the combination with a lurilitz' ot ements arranged in series and which when vibrated produce dili'erent musical notes. an impact member, and means for causing and member to strike said elements individually to vibrate the same, of means comprising disk having a variegated perimetral edge for shifting the path of movement of said member whereby the elements are vibrated in a predetermined sequence, and means comprising a second disk having a variegated perimetral edge for selectively regulating the rests between the operations of said member whereby to pro duce the desired tempo, said disks being arranged in permanently fixed relation to each other for installation on and removal. from the toy as a unitary tune-record whereby by the selection of the proper tune-record any desired tune may be played on the toy.

9. In a musical toy, the combination of a plurality of elements arranged in series and which when vibrated produce dillerent musical notes, an impact member, and means for causing said member to strike said elements individually to vibrate the same, of a tunerecord arranged to be removably applied to the toy to control the operation of said member whereby to cause the toy to play a selected tune, holding means for preventing the accidental dislodgment of the record from the toy, and means whereby when holdingmei'zns are moved to permit the removal of the record the operative connection between said member and said record is interrupted.

10. In a musical toy, the combination with a plurality of Xylophone bars arranged in series, an impact member, means for causing said impact member to strike the bars individually, of selective means for directing the operation of said member whereby a predetermined sequence of notes are struck, and means for regulating the tempo of the notes struck. said selective means and said temporegulating' means being permanently combined in a unitary structure which is remo ably associated with the toy whereby by the selection of the proper means a selected tune r a be rendered by the toy.

11. In a musiral toy, the combination with a plurality of Xylophone bars arranged in series, an impact member, means for causing" said impact member to strike the bars individually, of selective means for directing, the operation of said member whereby a predetermined sequence of notes are struik, and

FRANK J. GORIUP. 

